Become a Student

Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?

Our intention at Living Light Culinary Institute is to support our students every step of the way as they transform their dreams into reality. Whether they want to achieve better health for themselves and their families, teach culinary classes, open a restaurant, write a recipe book, or work at retreat centers and spas around the world, we strive to make our curriculum meaningful and relevant to each student's individual journey. Our aspiring chefs count on Living Light to give them the skills, tools, and inspiration they need to create gourmet cuisine with confidence, no matter what their goals.

One of the most important things students gain from their experience at Living Light is community combined with unconditional love and support. It has always been, and will continue to be, an important component of all our classes. As most of our students will attest—you will not be sorry you decided on Living Light for your culinary training. In fact, you will receive more than you ever dreamed possible! We instill in each of our students a sense of possibility and the motivation to create an extraordinary future. We are proud of every Living Light graduate, and consistently amazed by what they are able to create in the world – our graduates truly ARE extraordinary.

The Living Light Difference

People often ask, "What is the difference between your courses and others that certify chefs, but take less time and are less expensive?" It's true, our courses are longer, although not necessarily more costly than other programs, comparing the value received and the per day cost of tuition. We are a culinary school with a curriculum that is designed to teach all aspects of both raw culinary arts and nutrition.

Over the years, we have discovered the most important aspects of gourmet raw culinary arts and raw nutritional science education, and we're committed to sending people home fully prepared, so by the time they leave our school, our graduates have perfected their skills hands-on, starting at the beginning and culminating in gourmet cuisine that inspires the most discerning palate.

From the very first day a student arrives, and through all of our advanced culinary and nutrition classes, we provide a nurturing environment for the learning process, and we're very proud of our teaching staff at Living Light. Each of our chef instructors brings an incredible level of expertise and experience in all aspects of raw food preparation to the job. And no other program has trained more expert raw food chefs and authors than Living Light Culinary Institute! Click here for grad success stories.

The Mother of Gourmet Raw Vegan Cuisine

Learn from the best! Cherie Soria, founder and director of Living Light Culinary Institute, is widely considered the originator of gourmet raw vegan cuisine. Cherie has taught culinary arts to students and teachers from more than 50 countries around the world, including many of the top celebrity raw chefs today. Cherie has devoted more than 40 years to teaching people the benefits of vegetarian, vegan, and gourmet raw cuisine, and has a formidable knowledge of the subject. She works tirelessly to spread the benefits of raw cuisine throughout the globe by training teachers and individuals to inspire others. Click here for a special message from Cherie.

Sustainability

Living Light International is committed to a sustainable lifestyle. All four of our businesses compost, recycle, use vegan, non-toxic cleaning products and filtered water. In fact, Living Light was awarded the Mendocino County Sustainability Award by the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce for 2010-2011! Living Light Café also uses compostable and biodegradable to-go containers and cutlery, and Living Light Marketplace features sustainable bamboo, recycled glass, organic foods and body care products, and books and DVDs about nontoxic and environmentally safe housekeeping, organic gardening, permaculture, and more. In addition to a full house water filtration system and non-toxic cleaning products, our Living Light Inn has organic bedding for the health of our student guests.

Location, Location, Location!

Don't forget one of the most important reasons to attend Living Light: our spectacular location. Living Light Center is an 8,000 square foot state of the art facility located on the spectacularly beautiful Mendocino coast of northern California. This area is well known for excellent lodging, restaurants, live music, antique shops, wineries, theater, and art galleries.

We have pristine sea air, and beautiful beaches and state parks, with miles of trails along the coast and in the Redwood forests. Depending on the season, there is whale watching, wild mushroom foraging (with a guide), exploring tide pools, and horseback riding on Ten Mile beach. Canoeing, kayaking, and bicycling are popular pursuits all along the coast. Take the Skunk Train through the Redwoods to Willits, or visit nearby Orr Hot Springs. We recommend scheduling a few days for recreation if you can.

Living Light Inn

Stay at Fort Bragg's premier eco-friendly Living Light Inn while attending Living Light culinary and nutritional science classes and receive as much as 30% OFF. Shared rooms (as low as $30 a night) are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Our raw vegan kitchen is available for Living Light students only and is equipped with all the supplies needed to prepare your raw food meals. You can study, play, learn from each other, share meals and prepare food together after school is finished for the day. Living Light Inn leads the entire north coast hospitality industry in eco-friendly lodging including organic bedding, a full-house water filtration system, and energy efficient practices. Be sure to sign up early for your accommodation at Living Light Inn, as the rooms fill up fast!

A Special Message from Cherie Soria

Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary? Many things make you extraordinary already: you are interested in a healthy lifestyle, you have a desire to learn and to live an inspired life, and you want to share your experience of life with others - these core values are things many of us share! When we choose a plant based diet, we are more connected to the earth and all of its inhabitants, and we become more connected to our spiritual center.

Because of my life experiences, and success in my field, many of you may think I'm special, but I'm no more special than each of you! How many of you are not doing something you once did or want to do, because you don't think you can do it as well as you want to? My advice to you is just do it!

You'll be surprised at how your body, mind, and spirit will rise to the challenge. The important thing to remember is not to compare yourself to others or to how you were in the past.

We are all perfect just the way we are right now - which doesn't mean that we want to stop learning - just that given everything that has led us to this point, where we are now is AMAZING and wonderful AND each of us still has more to learn, create, and do.

Always be sure to remember that you are unique and special - only you have your precious gifts to offer the world!

Forgive and let go: Forgive everyone for everything that they have ever done to you! After all, we are all co-creators in our own experience and without challenges, we would not be who we are - we would not have learned the valuable lessons we've learned! Each experience is essential to the fabric of our existence.

Accept yourself where you are now. Stop blaming yourself. What is past is past.

At Living Light, we teach a standard of excellence that sometimes challenges people, but when they leave, they know that they have the ability to live up to the challenge of being extraordinary!

Would you like more information about becoming a Living Light Student? Contact an enrollment advisor today: call (800) 816-2319 or (707) 964-2420, Skype, or Email...they would love to help you! You can also click here to schedule a personalized phone or Skype consultation at your convenience.